Retaliation at Corcoran

This letter is from prisoner who prefers to remain anonymous. This letter is dated Sept 29th, 2011 and the coalition received this letter on October 4th, 2011.

I trust that you are well upon receiving this. I needed to write to make you aware of the acts of retaliation taking place here as a result of our going back on the hunger strike on September 26, 2011. Today we were told that anyone who participates in the hunger strike will not be allowed to go outside to the yard cages. And we were not allowed outside. [We were also threatened with being issued rules violation reports (115s) for furthering or promoting gang activity.]

It was also ordered that our legal mail be opened “out of our presence.” Both of these and other acts of retaliation were authorized by the facility captain, Captain Castro. There are two of many acts of retaliation that has occurred since the July hunger strike started. This (only) section has not been to the law library in over a month.

Several people in this section have ordered items (sweats, beanie caps, etc.) but no one in this section has received anything. We have been told that no one in this section will be issued anything while the hunger strike is taking place. Threats of canceling visits for this section have also occurred.

I wrote to you and made you aware of the massive retaliatory cell search that occurred on August 16, 2011 in which books, photos, TV cables and other items were destroyed. There was no signature on many of the cell search receipts to show who was responsible for it, and none of the receipts listed the items taken. The same Captain Castro was responsible for this occurring – admitted it was wrong. And told us that we would be reimbursed for the items taken. Most of the guys in the section have been reimbursed. None of us who are Afrikan have been.

There is a very obvious and clear, and deliberate effort being made to try and provoke us to react violently. And it is even more obvious that captain is at the heart of it.

They did start weighing us today. Naturally, many of us have lost weight. I am on medication for high blood pressure (and cholesterol) and have been for several years. My blood pressure today was 153/88. And no one saw anything wrong with it.

In particular, the effort(s) to provoke violence is being directed toward this section, the so-called short corridor. And only toward those of us who are participating in the hunger strike. Not the guys in the section who don’t support it. Everyone here understands the importance of non-violent protest. But no one really knows what is going on. (And we do understand that Pelican Bay is the priority). And it’s this constant almost daily bombardment of disrespect and foolishness. It makes for an extremely toxic climate. And in the case of this spot, a historically toxic climate. Some of us have filed appeals to ensure that a record is maintained.

We were told today that on the legal mail, as it relates to hunger strikers, the mail will be held up and the attorney will be contacted by the gang unit (I.G.I.) and asked if they are representing the inmate sending the mail. If the attorney says no, they will ask the attorney if they can open the mail. And then they will open it! It’s almost comical. It is clearly illegal. They should not even be holding the mail up. This is the best proof of how they literally create their own reality and then come up with these really wild excuses to legitimize their reality, their lies. This is only directed toward those people who are participating in the hunger strike. It is retaliation. It was also decided that those of us on the hunger strike will be weighed once every eight days! A nurse comes by each morning and asks if you are ok. That’s it.

I must get this ready to go. I am exhausted. I will keep you posted on things on this end. Without sacrifice, there can be no gain.

I am the mother of an inmate in the shu and tonight my prayer is ,that God loose his angels around these men @ pelican bay on the hunger strike. that rules regulations and ordinances be changed in behalf of the inmates.,and tonight my cry is, let God arise in this place and may the cry of every inmate be heard and the enemy be scattered.. and may God turn Castro heart of stone to a heart of flesh, and I say repent for the injustice and inhumane manner in which you have treated these men irregardless of color or religious preference,Have you lost all fear of God. remember one day you will be made accountable for the way you have treated others,
lets come together as the body of Christ and cry out in behalf of these men and women being mistreated and abused in these state facility’s,Prayer and the confession of Gods word changes things, tonight my declaration is no weapon formed against these inmates and those representing them shall prosper and every tongue that rises up against them the lord will declare to be in the wrong, and tonight father I remind you of your word in 1st cor 1 that you would make them steadfast and give them strength that you would be there warrant against all accusation and indictment that you would declare there innocence, and tonight I say Thank you to those advocates that had the courage to stand in the gap to be the mouth peace for my son and all those others that have been treated so inhumanely , In Pelican Bay Prison, may God hear the cry of every mother, father, child, wife,brother and sister in behalf of every family and individual represented in pelican bay. and may god raise Chaplains in this place to intercede in behalf of these men.
concerned MOM

The man running this center has to answer to SOMEone – so – find the budget committee that authorizes the budget and spending for the prison – and recruit a bunch of people to protest the budget – seek the revocation of the prison’s status – if they cannot treat prisoners right, then get the money OUT of the prison officials’ hands.

Petition the White House to consider shutting the prison down, or to request the prison administration to act on the poor conditions – go to White House.gov, start a petition, and encourage all the attorneys for these people to act in representation of these people to sign the petition – once you acquire 5,000 signatures (hey, you should be able to get more than that in a single day, yes?), the petition will be reviewed by White House staff and possibly acted upon. Petition to shut down the prison, revoke funding status, or petition for the replacement of the person in charge (this “Castro” guy you all mention.) – what do prison officials fear? Is there a group that has the actual authority to act in substitute to this Castro guy? Then go after this guy’s career. Someone put him there, someone can take him off that prison official desk. There is generally an authorizing statute (the enabling statute) that allows a recall on an official – go that route if elected officials will not remove the Catsrow from its perch. Make it squeal in financial agony.

Expose the officials in charge – tell people exactly HOW the prison system’s processes work. How did this creature get to its post? What are the processes for terminating it? What is the first and last name of this Castro guy – where does he live? Who is his boss? Who is he related to? Who is his family? Publicize all of that. You have a right to. Do any of his relatives run a business? Squish the businesses and send receipts for competitors to the businesses with little love notes that demand concessions for the prisoners on Castrow’s action. The most VIOLENT of wars is, in fact, economic war. So – since there is no one getting bloodied, maybe someone will be heaving their fetid last over the stress from a loss of 30 years’ worth of life put into a crippled business because angry citizens boycott it over a relative’s actions. THAT will kick the Catsrow into action.

Families let’s all join forces and pray that God will intervene in this situation. It’s time for us to fall on our faces and seek God’s face. 2 Chro. 7:14 says If my people which are called by my name shall humble themselves, pray, seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I forgive their sins and heal their lands. We have to humble ourselves, not be angry with the system, for they are operating under the directions of the evil one (satan). We can not fight with carnal weapons. We have to fight in the spirit realm. God has not forsaken our loved ones. We have prayed for strength, sound minds, and that God fill their bellies with His river of living water, so they won’t thirst no more. We no longer can rely on the people we elected and put into office. This strike is going on, on purpose for God’s purpose. We will see God’s glory. No weapon formed against thee (the men) shall prosper. This is the Word of the Lord. We can will this fight on our knees. God is all that we have. There is no other who can help us or these men. GOD IS IN CONTROL. GOD HAS THE FINAL SAY. Man can’t do no more than God allows them. Whoa unto them that hurts one of God’s children (the men). Pray mercy upon the staff at these prisons. Be encouraged families and know that this is in God’s hands. My prayers are with you and the men. I decree and declare that all five of the request from the men will be answered by God. God will have favor on these men for being in unity. Encourage your loved ones in these prisons to PRAY too.!

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